Autism and Sensory Differences

Many people who are on the Autism spectrum have difficulty processing everyday sensory information. Any of the senses may be over- or under-sensitive, or both, and at different times. These sensory differences can affect behaviour and can have a profound effect on a person’s life.

I have written about SPD before (https://autisticnick.com/2018/09/03/sensory-processing-disorder-spd/) But I want to take a more in depth look at how each of our senses can be triggered as well as looking at some of the effects of hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch, balance and body awareness.

Sight

UNDER-SENSITIVE

Objects appear quite dark or lose some of their features.

Central vision is blurred but peripheral vision quite sharp.

A central object is magnified but things on the periphery are blurred.

Some Autistic people may limit themselves to bland foods or crave very strong-tasting food.

Touch

UNDER-SENSITIVE

Holds others tightly – needs to do so before there is a sensation of having applied any pressure.

Has a high pain threshold.

May be unable to feel food in the mouth.

Enjoys heavy objects (e.g. weighted blankets) on top of them.

Chews on everything, including clothing and inedible objects.

OVER-SENSITIVE

Touch can be painful and uncomfortable – people may not like to be touched and this can affect their relationships with others.

Dislikes having anything on hands or feet.

Difficulties brushing and washing hair because head is sensitive.

May find many food textures uncomfortable.

Only tolerates certain types of clothing or textures.

Balance (Vestibular)

UNDER-SENSITIVE

A need to rock, swing or spin to get some sensory input.

You could encourage activities that help to develop the vestibular system. This could include using rocking horses, swings, roundabouts, seesaws, catching a ball or practising walking smoothly up steps or curbs.

OVER-SENSITIVE

Difficulties with activities like sport, where we need to control our movements.

Difficulties stopping quickly or during an activity.

Car sickness.

Difficulties with activities where the head is not upright, or feet are off the ground.

Body Awareness (Proprioception)

Our body awareness system tells us where our bodies are in space, and how different body parts are moving.

UNDER-SENSITIVE

Stands too close to others, because they cannot measure their proximity to other people and judge personal space.

Has to be systematic. Like seeing someone is frustrated ——> must find out why or remind self it’s not always actually about me. Sometimes I use percentages to gauge how bad a situation is and, if close to the person, ask them to describe their intensity using a scale from 1-10, with 10 being catastrophic.